Sallie Mae Lillard

SALLIE MAE PHILLIPS  was the second daughter of ten siblings born to the union of Richard, Sr. and Luella Phillips in Aubrey, Arkansas on January 29, 1922.  She grew up loving and being surrounded by her large family.

She accepted Christ in her young life and the late T.C. Williams, Pastor of the Old Mount Everett Missionary Baptist Church, baptized her.  She later united with the St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Reverend T.H. Scission in Postelle, Arkansas.  She served in the choir ministry, the Usher Board, and was a Sunday School Teacher.  After a declining membership of the St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church, they merged with the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Gamble, Reverend C. Jackson, and now under the leadership of Reverend Ricky Hulbert of Marvell, Arkansas.  Sher served faithfully until a decline in her health.

In the early 1940’s, she moved to Chicago, Illinois and was employed at Michael Reese Hospital.  After a brief time, her heart was longing to move back to Arkansas to be with her family and friends.

She united in Holy Matrimony to Emmitt Lockwood and Kermit Lillard.  Both preceded her in death.

She had a passion for cooking, gardening, raising hogs, chickens, and canning all types of fruit.  Baking was her specialty.  Her awarding dessert was that good ole fashion butter roll and T-cakes.  She also loved going to the BGACDC Center to make beautiful quilts and distributed them to her family.

Sallie enjoyed traveling to Chicago, Illinois; Richmond, Virginia; Knoxville, Tennessee; Gaithersburg, Maryland; and Gary, Indiana visiting her family members.  She would only take short trips because she got home sick.

She was a strong diligent wife, mother, and grandmother.  She worked tirelessly to provide for her family including chopping and picking cotton, chopping and picking okra.  As a result of her arduous work, she was able to purchase land and build her first home for her family.

She loved and enjoyed hosting the Thanksgiving Feast at her home.  She welcomed many families and friends and never ran out of food.

She loved and enjoyed her family.  After raising her sixteen children, she extended that love to her grandchildren and two (2) additional daughters, Eugenia Phillips and Lenora (Anna) Boyd.

October 08, 2022, Sallie heard the voice of her Lord saying, “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant.”  She answered her Lord’s call peacefully at home with her family.

Preceding her in death were her parents:  Richard, Sr. and Luella Phillips; her children:  Denois Lockwood; Herbert Phillips; Otis Dean Phillips (Brenda); James Lillard; and Nathaniel Stone; her siblings:  Sirvanious Phillips; Thomas Jerry Phillips, Sr. (Josephine); Garfield Phillips (Anna); Arthur Lee Phillips (Joyce); Ollie Mae Boyd (Predell); Irene Payne (Enisho); Ceifus Phillips; James Phillips; and Samuel Phillips.

She leaves to cherish her memories four (4) daughters:  Jearlene Parrott (George; Deceased) of Matteson, Illinois; Rachel Odom (Harmon) of Mary Esther, Florida; Luella Lillard of Marvell, Arkansas; and Delores Phillips-Jones (Byron) of Dolton, Illinois; seven (7) sons:  Luther Lockwood of Marvell, Arkansas; Genois Lockwood (Thelma) of Chicago, Illinois; Reverend Celee Phillips (Doris; Deceased) of Knoxville, Tennessee; Ervin Phillips of Chicago, Illinois; Sherbert Phillips of Knoxville, Tennessee; Virgil Phillips (Annette) of Richmond, Virginia; and Clarence Phillips (Zina) of Lansing, Illinois; thirty (30) grandchildren; twenty-three (23) great-grandchildren; twelve (12) great-great grandchildren; one (1) special sister-in-law:  Mable Phillips; and many nieces, nephews, and a host of other family members and friends.

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